The festival highlights independent movies from all over the country. There are discussions to possibly have Focus Features screen films in Danbury this year. Focus Features is a division of Universal Pictures and has distributed movies such as "Atonement" and "Eastern Promises."

"It looks like it might be a good idea from an economic perspective," said resident Amy Partrick, who attends the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival every year in upstate New York.

Partrick said that festival provides an economic boon for the Hillsdale, N.Y. area.

The film festival could attract 5,000 people and generate $530,000 in direct spending in the city, according to an economic impact analysis prepared by the Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau.

At Wednesday's Common Council meeting, several elected officials wanted to make sure they could keep track of the $75,000 the city will donate. The money will be used mostly to market the city and the festival, said organizer Tom Carruthers of Bethel.

Carruthers is the sole member of the limited liability company that runs the festival.

The council requested monthly reports from Economic Development Director Wayne Shepperd explaining how the money is used.

The council also wanted guarantees from Carruthers that the festival will return to Danbury in subsequent years, assuming this year is a success.

Carruthers said the LLC is essentially run like a non-profit agency and that there are plans to convert the business into a true non-profit.